The Catholic Sun Digital Update for
May 15 – May 28
Preview edition
First American pope: White Sox fan, Villanova grad, Peru missionary, Vatican leader
ABOVE: Pope Leo XIV, the former Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, waves to the crowds in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican after his election as pope May 8, 2025. The new pope was born in Chicago. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
By Maria Wiering, OSV News
(OSV News) — Standing on loggia of St. Peter’s basilica, newly elected Pope Leo XIV smiled, waved and appeared to hold back emotion May 8 as he introduced himself to the world as the 266th successor to St. Peter — the first American to hold that role.
His first words: “Peace be with you!”
Pope Leo, 69, formerly Cardinal Robert F. Prevost, is the first pope from the United States. He assumes the chair of Peter with multifaceted leadership experience: He grew up in the Midwest, graduated from Augustinian-run Villanova University in 1977 with a math degree, ministered as a bishop in Peru, and led the Vatican dicastery that helps appoint, form and retire bishops.
Born in Chicago and ordained a priest for the Order of St. Augustine in 1982, Pope Leo held major leadership roles in his religious community before being ordained a bishop in 2014, ministering in the dioceses of Chiclayo and Callao, Peru. He was installed as the prefect of the Holy See’s Dicastery for Bishops — the powerful Vatican body responsible for choosing bishops throughout the world — in April 2023 and was elevated that September to the rank of cardinal.
Diocese celebrates Mass of Thanksgiving for Pope Leo XIV
By Liz Landry, staff writer
Photo credit | Dave Garrett
At noon on Friday, May 9, the day after our new pontiff, Pope Leo XIV was elected, many faithful gathered at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Syracuse to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving. Bishop Douglas J. Lucia was the principal celebrant, joined by several diocesan priests and Bishop Emeritus Robert J. Cunningham.
Planned trips to Italy take on a new twist
Two travelers went to Rome for a canonization but stayed for a funeral
above: Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi.
By Elizabeth Landry, staff writer
It was an experience shared by many travellers to Rome this past April — those who went to witness the canonization of Blessed Carlo Acutis instead found themselves taking part in the events following the death of Pope Francis. Two such travelers were Ryan Hamilton, youth minister at St. Rose of Lima Church in North Syracuse, and Dwight “Buzz” Putnam, physics teacher at Notre Dame Schools in Utica.
Welcome to SunSpeak…
Each Digital Update from the Catholic Sun features…
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A timely column from Bishop Douglas J. Lucia.
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Ordinary Time” with Lucia Silechia, (the “Lucia” theme is purely concidental).
From time to time we will feature other columns of note. Let us know if you like the service we are providing; email us at [email protected].
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